Spring actuated quick acting safety razor



1953 H. A. SPAFFORD 2,846,763

SPRING ACTUATED QUICK ACTI NG SAFETY RAZOR Filed April 20, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

' 2,846,763 SPRING ACTUATED QUICK ACTING SAFETY RAZOR Filed April 20,1955 Aug. 12, 1958 H. A. SPAFFORD 2 Sheets $heet 2 INVEN TOR. CJUZ/ffbrcl United Staes SPRING ACTUATED QUICK ACTING SAFETY RAZOR Thisinvention relates to improvements in safety razors employing a centrallyopening two-part cap cooperating with the blade supporting member tohold the blade in position, the cap being actuated by a spindle andplunger that is under the influence of a spring contained within therazor handle.

The invention aims to provide improved features for such a razor thatenhance the utility of the razor both in construction and in ease ofoperation.

Objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description, taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, of an illustrative embodiment thereof, and in which drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of the complete razor in closed positionbut Without the blade;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top view with the cap open;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the scale of Fig. 2 with thecap closed and the blade in position for shaving;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but showing an alternativeposition in which the cap is open for removal or insertion of a blade;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.3; and

Figure 6 shows a modified construction.

The razor selected as an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention includes a blade-supporting member 11. This may be constructedof relatively heavy sheet metal and provided at its ends with downturnedears 12 and along its longitudinal edges with guard bars 13 of the usualconstruction. The blade-supporting member may be formed by die pressinga single blank as shown provided with a central elongated depressedrecess 14 and adjacent convex blade supporting faces 15 (Fig. 2). Themember 11 is provided in each end with a centrally located slot 15aopening through the walls of the recess 14 and extending downwardlybetween the ears 12. Also, at each corner, the member 11 is notched asat 16 to provide restricted passageways for the legs of the cap sectionsas will presently be explained. The blade-supporting member 11 isrigidly connected to a tubular shank 17 from which extends downwardly atubular barrel 18 that constitutes the handle of the razor, the shankhaving a reduced portion 17a that is force-fitted into the barrel (Fig.3).

The two-part cap, which comprises two similar cap sections 19, iscarried by a yoke member or central rail 20 which may be formed offolded laminae as shown and has angular dependent ends 2011 that arelocated in the slots 15a of the blade-supporting member 11 and projectbeyond the latter. To each of these ends respectively is rigidly secureda cross-arm 21. To each end of each cross-arm is pivoted at 21a a leg 22of one of the cap sections 19. The legs 22 play in the restrictednotches 16.

A central spindle 24 that passes reciprocably downwardly into the shankand barrel is secured at its upper "ice end to the rail 20. In thisinstance (Fig. 3) the upper end of the spindle is cut out to receive therail as at 25 and is then oppositely indented as at 26 to stake the railand spindle together, the rail 20 being perforated as at 26a within thespindle to receive the indented metal of the latter.

Each of the legs of the cap sections has an out-turned tongue 27, which,when the rail is raised by the spindle, engages the under face of themember 11 adjacent thereto to swing its related cap section into thefully open position shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, as by a cam or eccentricaction of the cap sections on their pivots 21a.

Turning now to features of the present invention, the cross arms 21, ateach end, are cut away or recessed as at 29 along their upper edges toprovide finger holes by which the blade 30 may be readily grasped whenthe razor is in the open position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the blade atthis time lying flatly on the cross arms and projecting slightly beyondthe recess 29 at each end.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the spindle 24 isconnected (Fig. 3) to a plunger 31 that has a reduced tubular part 32that enters the lower end of the barrel 18 to receive the reduced lowerend 24a of the spindle. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, theplunger 31 has a bore 33 that is counter-bored as at 34 to receive amachine screw 35 that is threadedly received in a drilled and tappedhole 36 of the spindle end 24a, the plunger bore 33 being enlarged as at37 to snugly receive the reduced lower end of the spindle.

Between the upper end 38 of the plunger and the lower end 39 of theshank part 17a is located a helical compression spring 40 that urges theplunger 31, and with it the spindle, downwardly in the barrel tomaintain the razor in the closed position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. Atthis time, as is well known, the blade 30, which is centrally aperturedto pass therethrough the rail 20, is held by the blade supporting memberand the cap sections in an arched position, the blade being flexible forthis purpose, as is known to be most favorable for the shaving action.In arching, the blade being pressed downwardly adjacent its cuttingedges by the cap sections, is made to conform somewhat to the convexsurface of the supporting member 11.

A further feature of the present invention is that arching of the bladeis desirably aided by fulcrum elements here provided on the bladesupporting faces 15 adjacent the center line of the member 11. Suchfulcrum elements are here shown in the form of upstruck lugs or tabs 41,there being in this instance four of them, one on each side of the railand at each end of the blade supporting member Where the blade iscontinuous thereacross. The upstruck tabs leave notches 41acommunicating with slot 15a. It will be understood that when the razoris in closed position (Fig. 3), the cross-arms 21 are depressed belowthe upper surface of the blade supporting member and are then belowthese fulcrum members so that the blade rests in the direction of itslongitudinal axis on these fulcrum members and its outer edges arepressed downwardly therefrom by the cap sections respectively. Thisfulcrummed flexing of the blade permits the use of a lighter spring 46requiring less effort to open the razor against .the force of thespring. When the razor is in open position (Fig. 4), the resilience ofthe blade restores it to planar form, resting on the cross-arms 21, thelatter being now elevated by the spindle 24 by the manual action ofpressing downwardly on the barrel 18 against the force of the spring 46.

Still following the present invention, the plunger counter-bore 34 thatprovides room for the head 35a of the screw 35 is closed by a resilientfriction or non-slip plug 42, such as of rubber or other elastomericmaterial,

the plug having an enlarged projecting head 43 flush V with the plungerperiphery that constitutes an operating knob for the razor in the sensethat when the barrel is held firmly in the hand in a vertical positionresting on the knob 43 and downward pressure is exerted the plunger 31moves upwardly in the barrel, lifts the spindle and opens the capsections. An integral annular ring 43a fits into a correspondinginternal ring in bore 34 toretain plug 42 in position. When thispressure is released the spring 40 immediately retracts the plunger 31together with the spindle and closes the cap sections to lock the bladein arched position as previously described.

Preferably, a deeply knurled annular shoulder 17b is provided on tubularshank 17 to facilitate gripping of the razor handle in operating themechanism to open the cap sections.

Further following the present invention, means are here provided forreleasably holding the plunger and barrel relatively in position inwhich the razor is open (Fig. 4). To maintain the razor in thisposition, there is here shown an annular groove 44 in the interior faceof the barrel 18 having an upwardly facing annular shoulder 45. Tocooperate therewith the plunger 31 is slotted longitudinally as at 46 toreceive a catch or detent lever 47 that carries on its outer edgeintermediately thereof a trigger tooth 48 having a downwardly facingshoulder 49. The lever 47 is enlarged at its upper end as at 50 tosnugly fit the slot 46, to maintain the lever in position, whileintermediately the lever is narrowed so as to have play in the slot 46radially of the plunger. At its lower end the laver 47 has a lateralextension 51 that projects slightly beyond the plunger and carries abutton 52. Behind the extension 51 is a compression coil spring 53 in acylindrical enlargement 53a of the slot 46 that urges the lever 47, atits lower end, outwardly of the slot 46. Thus, when the plunger andbarrel are pushed together to open the razor as described, the triggertooth 48, riding on the inner face of the barrel and pressed outwardlyby the spring 53, enters the annular groove 44. Abutment of the shoulder45 on the barrel and shoulder 49 on the trigger tooth prevents outwardmovement of the plunger with respect to the barrel under the influenceof spring 40 until the button 52 is manually pressed to retract thedetent lever and withdraw the trigger finger from the groove. While thebutton is so held the spring 40 moves the plunger outwardly of thebarrel to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing from the positionshown in Fig. 4.

It is desirable to have an intermediate position for the razor, in whichit; is neither completely open nor completely closed, but in which theblade is held from falling out. In such position of the razor, it may berinsed or doused in running water to clean the blade and the blade maybe left'to dry. For this purpose, in accord with a further feature ofthe present invention, there is here shown a second annular groove 54,spaced from the groove 44 and located nearer the outer end of thebarrel. The trigger tooth 48 cooperates with the groove 54 in the samemanner as with the groove 44, with the barrel and plunger somewhat lesscompletely telescoped but with the cap sections swung sufficientlyinwardly to hold the blade from falling out.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the spindle 55, which is of uniformdiameter, is secured to the plunger 56 by having its lower end 57pressed into the bore 58 of the plunger by a force fit, the parts andfunctions being otherwise the same as in the previous figures of thedrawing, except that in this optional modification the detent lever 47is omitted and the barrel and plunger must be manually held in theirmore telescoped position to maintain the razor open, if the catch meansbe not desired.

The invention is not intended to be limited to details of constructionshown for purposes of exemplification, and, furthermore, it may not beessential that all features of the invention be used conjointly, sincevarious combinations and sub-combinations may at times be advantageouslyemployed.

Such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the invention.

What is here claimed is:

1. In a quick acting safety razor, the combination with a bladesupporting member, a barrel rigid therewith, a spindle reciprocablewithin the barrel, a cap carried by the spindle, and a spring urging thespindle to a position closing the cap on the blade supporting member, ofa plunger reciprocable with the spindle and projecting from the barrelat its end opposite said blade supporting member, a longitudinal slot insaid plunger, a detent in said slot, resilient means carried by theplunger urging the detent outwardly, a formation on the detent, a secondformation in the barrel cooperating with the first formation to hold therazor open against the force of the spring, and a third formation in thebarrel spaced outwardly of the second formation for holding the razorpartially open.

2. In a quick acting safety razor, the combination with a bladesupporting member, a barrel rigid therewith, a spindle reciprocablewithin the barrel, a cap carried by the spindle, and a spring urging thespindle to a position closing the cap on the blade supporting member, ofa plunger reciprocable with the spindle and projecting from the barrelat its end opposite said blade supporting member, a longitudinal slot insaid plunger, a detent lever in said slot, resilient means carried bythe plunger urging the lever outwardly at its outer end, a firstformation on the lever intermediately thereof, a second formation in thebarrel cooperating with the first formation to hold the razor openagainst the force of the spring, and a button on the lever forretracting the first formation out of the second formation to close therazor.

3. In a quick acting safety razor, the combination with a bladesupporting member, a barrel rigid therewith, a spindle reciprocablewithin the barrel, a two-part cap carried by the spindle, and a springurging the spindle to a position closing the cap on the blade supportingmember, of a plunger reciprocable with the spindle and projecting fromthe barrel at its end opposite said blade supporting member, alongitudinal slot in said plunger,

a detent lever in said slot, a spring carried by the plunger urging thelever outwardly at its outer end, a trigger tooth on the leverintermediately thereof, a first annular groove in the barrel cooperatingwith the tooth to hold the razor fully open against the force of thefirst mentioned spring, and a second annular groove in the barrel spacedoutwardly of the first groove to cooperate with the tooth for holdingthe razor partially open.

4. In a quick acting safety razor, the combination with a bladesupporting member, a barrel rigid therewith, a

spindle reciprocable within the barrel, a two-part cap carried by thespindle, and a spring urging the spindle to a position closing the capon the blade supporting member, of a plunger reciprocable with thespindle and projecting frorn the barrel at its end opposite said bladesupporting member, a longitudinal slot in said plunger, a detent leverin said slot, a spring carried by the plunger urging the lever outwardlyat its outer end, a formation on the lever intermediately thereof, andan annular groove in the barrel cooperating with said formation to holdthe razor open against the force of the first mentioned spring, saidgroove and formation having opposed holding shoulders.

5. In a quick acting safety razor, the combination with a bladesupporting member, a barrel rigid therewith, a spindle reciprocablewithin the barrel, a cap carried by the spindle, and a spring urging thespindle to a position closing the cap on the blade supporting member, ofa plunger reciprocable with the spindle and projecting from her, alongitudinal slot in said plunger, a detent lever in said slot,resilient means carried by the plunger urging the lever outwardly at itsouter end, a first formation on the lever intermediately thereof, asecond formation in the barrel to hold the razor open against the forceof the spring, and a fulcrum element upstanding from said bladesupporting member located along the center line thereof to facilitatearching of the blade when the razor is closed.

6. In a quick acting safety razor, the combination, with a bladesupporting member, a barrel rigid therewith, a spindle reciprocablewithin the barrel, a two-part cap carried by the spindle for engaging ablade, and a spring urging the spindle to a position closing the cap onthe blade supporting member to flex the blade to shaving position, of afirst interengaging means between the spindle and the barrel for holdingthe cap in partially open non-shaving position against the force of saidspring tending to fully close it, whereby the blade is loosely held forease of washing, a second interengaging means between the spindle andthe barrel for holding the cap in 20 fully open position against theforce of said spring, an

element extending laterally of the barrel for controlling saidinterengaging means, and a second spring urging said element intoposition to actuate the interengaging means to hold the cap in said openpositions selectively, whereby upon manual movement of said elementagainst the force of said second spring the cap and spindle are returnedto the influence of the first mentioned spring to quickly and fullyclose the razor from said partially open or fully open position toshaving position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,888,962 Swan Nov. 22, 1932 1,956,175 Muros Apr. 24, 1934 2,043,124Smith et a1. June 2, 1936 2,067,789 Robertson Jan. 12, 1937 2,109,554Smith et a1 Mar. 1, 1938 2,406,983 Anderson Sept. 3, 1946 2,698,995Anastasia Jan. 11, 1955 2,762,121 Isrolf et al Sept. 11, 1956

